Finland has received four new champion music awards at the opening ceremony of the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival on Monday evening. Unto Kukka, mandolin (Ii), Liisa Matveinen, folk song (Ilomantsi), Jari Paavola, Haitari (Kokemäki) and Jarmo Varila, The violinists (Kaustinen) have been awarded the title of master violinists. (Photos: Susanna Salokannel)
Master titles hold great value in the field of folk music and folk dance. A total of 165 masters have been selected so far – the first in 1970, when one of them was Konsta Jylhä, Finland’s most famous folk musician of all time. The first master folk singer was appointed in 1979, and the first master folk dancer in 2011.
At the request of the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival, the Folk Music Institute prepares an annual presentation of new emerging masters and listens to a wide range of representatives of the field, such as the Finnish Folk Music Federation.
The new champion musicians will make their debut at the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival this evening at the master class in the Soittosali at 8 PM. The opening ceremony also saw the distribution of a festival plaque to versatile folk musician Timo Saarimäki from Alavuori.
The new champion musicians will make their debut at the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival this evening at 8 p.m. in the Masterclass Hall. The opening ceremony also saw the distribution of a festival plaque, which was awarded to versatile folk musician Timo Saarimäki from Alavuori.
The festival area continues into the evening on Monday into the late hours. Lasten Kaustinen, the food street, and the area’s restaurants and cafes have also opened. A large number of performers and audience have already arrived. On the opening day, the public has free access to the festival area; all concerts and performances are free of charge.
New champions:
Unto Kukka, mandolin, Ii
Liisa Matveinen, folk song, Ilomantsi
Jari Paavola, haitari, Kokemäki
Jarmo Varila, violin, Kaustinen
All previous champion players from this link
New Champions League teams 2024
Unto Kukka, mandolin, Ii
Unto Kukan’s passion for music began in his youth with his homemade guitars, but due to his finger pain, the guitar gradually changed to a mandolin. When Unto Kukkavalmistui became a teacher, music became an essential part of his daily life. He has been a member of several bands, both as a founding member and as a player – among the bands mentioned are at least the Ii Songwriters, the Ii Team, the Pohjankartanon mandoliinit, and the Kuivaniemen and Simon Mandolin Players.
Unto Kukka cannot accurately explain the appeal of folk music: ”Someone just drags you into playing. Not playing means not knowing how to be.”
In addition to playing the violin, Unto Kukka has also been a successful conductor of music groups, a composer of instrumental music, and a dedicated promoter of the music tradition of North Ostrobothnia in general.
Liisa Matveinen, folk song, Ilomantsi
In Ilomantsi, Liisa Matveisen childhood and youth, singing was an important part of the family and community life. Liisa became familiar with both lyrical singing and the various folk song forms at an early age.
”Karjala is a song-filled place, and at the festivals you really expected the speeches to end and you could just start singing; whenever you could even a little, you had to immediately present something,” he says.
Liisa Matveinen started studying the violin at the Sibelius Academy in 1981, and in 1983 she switched to the newly established folk music line. During her studies, song-recitation became her closest form of expression.
Matveinen has performed and performs in bands such as Niekku, Hedningarna, Suden aika and Surento. Among the important influences he mentions are Heikki Laitinen and the old tradition keepers: the musicians, singers and storytellers from whom he has drawn inspiration for his learning, attitude and understanding. Of the tradition keepers, he particularly emphasizes the role and significance of Martta Kuika and Sanni Pyörnilä.
Jari Paavola, haitari, Kokemäki
Jari Paavola's musical career began as a young boy at the civic school, the Säkylä Harmoniums, and at courses organized by the local accordion association. His passion for folk music truly took off when he was invited to play with the Eura band of musicians in Kustaa.
Olavi Järvisen, the one who played on the Eura games, the son of the legendary Kustaa Järvisen, became a mentor and a long-time and important musical companion to Jarri. In addition to Olavi Järvisen, Jari has also played for the champion band Arvo Viitaniemi for a long time, and later with the champion band Pentti Mattson.
In Jari Paavola's violin playing, folk music elements are strongly present. The understanding and interpretation of the style of the individual player or the local tradition are special strengths of Paavola's playing. He has also written numerous sheet music for different players, arranged folk music for different ensembles, composed his own compositions, and recorded the performances of professional violinists.
Jarmo Varila, violin, Kaustinen
Jarmo Varila is a violinist from Kaustinen, whose inspirations and role models have been especially his own great-uncle Veikko Varila, Pentti Myllykangas and Johannes Järvelä. Jarmolla there is a strong connection to the folk music heritage of the family, the village and the region, but as a younger man he also gained experience playing classical music.
The traditional, intergenerational style of the old village of Järvelä is particularly strong and clear in Jarmon’s playing. A significant step in his playing career was when the Kustavi folk dance group Kruusaus needed accompanists, and the Järvelä small band (later the JPP band) was formed. Jarmo Varila was with JPP for a long time, and his performances were in various parts of the world. Of his teachers, Jarmo Varila mentions Timo Kankaan, Juha Kankaan and Mauno Järvelä, whose significance as a supporter and motivator of his playing career Varila emphasizes especially.
Festival plaque 2024
Timo Saarimäki, Alavus (Photo: Esko Petäjä)
Master of Philosophy and Education Sciences, class and music teacher, principal Timo Saarimäki is a versatile musician and entertainer born in 1963 in Alavuori. Saarimäki moves smoothly between folk music and entertainment music in his work. He has worked as a drummer for numerous artists and folk dance groups. In addition, he is the Finnish champion of tamburitans from 1993.
Saarimäki has also been active in the field of trust management: in numerous folk music associations, including as a member of the board of the Etelä-Pohjalaiset Spelit Folk Music Association since 1991 and as chairman since 2015.
Tim has solid experience in organizing events and particularly extensive networks in the field of folk music. He has also taken on the main responsibility as the group’s coordinator for the program package of this year’s Kaustinen Folk Music Festival, themed around Southern Ostrobothnia.